The Argentina national soccer team arrived back home on Tuesday to enormous crowds in a World Cup parade. Following their 2022 World Cup win on Sunday, the South Americans finally made it back to Argentina.

Fans were not deterred by the arrival time of the team plane. Lionel Messi and company made it to the Buenos Aires airport just after two in the morning. The team was greeted by thousands of people just waiting to catch a glimpse of the squad with the trophy.

However, the celebrations were only bigger from there. Argentina’s government declared a holiday for Tuesday as the team scheduled for a parade through the capital city. Many pundits and reporters assumed there would be massive crowds for the parade. However, scenes from the procession on Tuesday are quite frankly stunning.

TyC Sports, a television channel based in Argentina, has reported that an estimated five million people went to the festivities.

Other videos coming in from Argentina show just how packed the fans are at the celebration. Very little pavement from the city streets can even be seen from up above.

Millions welcome Messi, Argentina home in World Cup parade

Messi led Argentina in Qatar to their third ever World Cup title. It was the team’s first triumph in the competition in 36 years though. Diego Maradona previously led Argentina to the trophy in 1986. The legend’s ‘Hand of God’ goal went down as one of the most infamous moments in World Cup history that year.

The 2022 World Cup victory, however, now cements Messi’s legacy in the sport. While many considered the 35-year-old playmaker the greatest player of all time even before this year’s tournament, Messi’s triumph in Qatar practically puts an end to the debate. He has now accomplished everything in his illustrious career.

While the parade on Tuesday attracted a huge amount of fans, celebrations inside Argentina will likely go on for weeks. The top flight league in the country does not start again until January 27th.

PHOTO: IMAGO / NurPhoto